1 Originally submitted to the CSP 2020 Review board 25 October 2020 Subject: Review of Australia’s Community Support Program (CSP) for Refugees I am Fr Arnold Heredia. I am delighted that the Australian Government is reviewing the Australian Community Sponsorship Program (CSP) for refugees. This matter is important to me as it is for many Australians. I write to you with the insight from a diverse group of stakeholders to the CSP. They are Australian community leaders, organisations and international partners. All who highly rank the importance of improving the Australian CSP. Since the end of World War II, Australia has had a commitment to resettlement of people from all over the world. Immigrants came to Australia in search of a better life. In doing so they have made enormous contributions to our nation, which has often been acknowledged. Unfortunately, in contrast with this magnanimous policy, today we see very limited pathways for refugees to find a safe home in Australia. One of these avenues is the CSP. We commend your government’s commitment to review and improve this program. As you may be aware, there are significant drawbacks in the current CSP, that inhibit the Australian people from taking part as sponsors. These drawbacks render the implementation of the CSP virtually impossible. The objective of this submission is to request that our government implement a more amenable and humane approach to the implementation of the CSP which: 1. Is affordable and sustainable 2. Does not disadvantage others in need 3. Allows community, families, donors and businesses to act as sponsors 4. Provides appropriate support and services 5. Creates more places with more appropriate eligibility criteria for political/religious vulnerable people to settle and integrate in Australia I was a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a national organisation bringing together politicians, lawyers, human rights advocates and members of the Pakistani community. From this experience, I know great things can happen when we all work together. And that is fundamental point. For a system or policy to work effectively, all its components must function in unison. The components of a successful Refugee Community Support Program are: 1. Willing individuals, families, communities and organizations with the drive and capacity to engage in private sponsorship. 2. A hospitable environment where newcomers can establish themselves, acquire a self- sufficient livelihood. 3. A feasible governmental framework that allows and encourages Australians to engage with sponsoring refugees. In this submission I will elaborate on each component, presenting knowledge from each of the stakeholders that are in support of improving the Australian CSP. 2 Originally submitted to the CSP 2020 Review board 25 October 2020 Australians have the Drive and Capacity to engage in private sponsorship I have been a priest in Australia for 19 years, across many regions of the Melbourne Archdiocese. In my career, I have been able to gauge the empathic stance of these communities. I know from this experience that people in Australia are generous, as they themselves, have been blessed with the goodness of this country. I am not the only observer of our communities’ generosity. In liaising with Parish Priests across the City of Knox, they have also received this feedback from their communities. Hearing that the Australian Government was reviewing the CSP, they have eagerly pledged their support to remove the barriers that bind and hold back the empathy of their communities (Please see attached supporting letters). The Parish Priests I have liaised with are listed below: - Fr. Sebastian Mappilaparambil, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bayswater - Fr. Joseph, St Luke’s Parish, Wantirna and Wantirna South - Fr. Thomas Kuruvila, St John the Baptist Parish, Ferntree Gully - Fr. Mirek Knap, Boronia Parish and The Basin - Fr. Mark Reynolds, Scoresby Through Parishes like these, resources to support refugees can be found and accessed. I am sure you are aware of other long-standing organisations such as Caritas Australia, Anglicare and the Catholic Social Services Victoria, which are purposed for such activities. There are even enthusiastic individuals and groups who are ready to coordinate fundraising campaigns and be a part of the support network for refugees. Australia is a hospitable environment for newcomers: An example of employment potential This goes without saying. Australia is a wonderful country with a friendly people. We have been blessed with a healthy economy and a well-developed infrastructure. One major aspect of being a hospitable environment for newcomers, is the ability to become self-sufficient. A major contributor to this is employment. An example of the employment potential in Australia, comes from liaising with the Northern Territory Farmers Association. They have indicated that refugees would definitely be considered for employment in NT farms. A new channel of workforce supply would be welcomed based on the following factors: “NT Farmers aims to increase Territory agricultural production to $600M by 2025 and $1B by 2030, to help Australia achieve its national industry target of $100B.” “Due to the strong demand for Territory agricultural produce and the already tight labour market, industry is facing significant workforce supply issues.” In their statement, which has been attached to this submission, they go on to state: “It is well known, the effect that Coronavirus has had on the workforce within our industry. A portion of our future workforce will also be dependent on future international travel restrictions. If these people in need can be sponsored and supported by the Australian community, we see a potential to offset the reduction in workers we have experienced during 2020.” 3 Originally submitted to the CSP 2020 Review board 25 October 2020 A feasible governmental framework All the stakeholders that are involved in this submission have stated that an improved governmental framework will engage the Australian community and make the CSP successful. “To fully harness community generosity that can help refugees, Australia's private sponsorship program needs to be designed in a way that encourages, not hinders, more people to take part, and that unlocks the welcome that exists in the Australian community.” ~Parish Priests within Knox jurisdiction of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. “With a feasible CSP, Australian communities and organisations will be able to engage with it. For the resulting people who are accepted into the Australian community, we can state that they would be considered for work by farmers in the Northern Territory.” ~Northern Territory Farmers Association A Model Private Sponsorship Program and an Example Application All of the above Parish Priests are in support of Links & Consolidation Network (LinCoN), an organisation of which, I am a founding member. LinCoN seeks to assist persecuted Christian minorities, who have fled their country to escape being lynched by militants. The majority of asylum seekers in LinCoN’s cohort have not meet UNHCR requirements due to technicalities, rather than a lack of authenticity. As a result, they live in exile, in inhumane conditions, hoping for someone to extend a helping hand as all other options have been exhausted. The program now has international outreach with established links with church- based agencies, in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, Canada. Some of the asylum seekers who approached LinCoN have been accepted into Canada via their Private Sponsorship for Refugees (PSR) program. “Fr Arnold Heredia established contact with us in 2017. Since then he has sent us a couple of applications for asylum, which we have approved and sent for due processing.” ~Ministries and Outreach Office, Archdiocese of Vancouver This is possible due to the agreement held between Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) and the Canadian Immigration department (IIRC). This agreement allows for scrutinization of an asylum seekers case to determine authenticity. “Under the Special Agreement Holders programme with the Canadian Government, we screen every application to ensure that it meets IRCC’s guidelines. Once that has been determined, we forward the case for processing to IRCC.” ~ORAT, Office for Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto Our interactions with partners in Canada has provided very useful insight in how the Canadian PSR program functions. This a very effective program that Australia can and should aspire to. Its success can be accounted for by: - Its robust eligibility criteria and screening processes - Its financial viability - Its integrated support and services - Its encouragement of the Canadian community to engage in sponsorship 4 Originally submitted to the CSP 2020 Review board 25 October 2020 - The strong integration outcomes facilitated by the community engaging with newcomers. The Office of Refugees Outreach in the Archdioceses of Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto have provided me supporting letters with details - On how the Canadian PSR program works - The response of their communities when such a program is available. - The handling of asylum seeker cases which have been dismissed by the UNHCR based on technicality. In summary Throughout my career as a priest, I have been exposed to the plight of people who are in genuine and desperate need of help. Australia is a country that is very much capable of providing that support which you and I have been also blessed to have received. There are families,